- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:50 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 51-year-old Indian national who travelled to Canada on a six-month visitor visa to meet his newborn grandchild has been convicted of criminally harassing two teenage girls outside a high school in Ontario. Jagjit Singh, who arrived in July, now faces deportation and a permanent ban on re-entering Canada after a Canadian court found his conduct “unacceptable and alarming.”
Singh had been frequenting a designated smoking area near a high school in the Sarnia region, where several students often gathered before and after classes. According to Canadian police, Singh repeatedly approached young girls between September 8 and September 11, attempting to take photographs with them and making gestures related to drugs and alcohol. Investigators said he does not speak English and relied on non-verbal communication.
Students Reported Invasive Behaviour
According to the local media reports, one student told investigators that she initially refused to take a photo with him but agreed hoping he would leave once the picture was clicked. Instead, Singh allegedly sat between the girls, tried to pull one of them closer, and attempted to place an arm around her. Feeling uncomfortable, the girl pushed his hand away and left the area. Several students later reported that Singh followed them after they left school property.
Police arrested Singh on September 16 on charges of sexual interference and sexual assault. He was granted bail a few days later. However, a fresh complaint related to the same incidents led to his re-arrest. Due to the lack of an interpreter, Singh spent an additional night in custody before being released again.
Court Notes ‘No Business Being On School Property’
On September 19, Singh appeared before a Sarnia court, where he pleaded not guilty to sexual interference but admitted guilt to the lesser charge of criminal harassment. Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski, while delivering the verdict, stated that Singh had “no business attending at the property of that high school” and emphasised that such behaviour “will not be tolerated.”
Singh’s lawyer told the court that his client had a return ticket for December 30 and that his time in jail had been “deeply distressing.” Despite this, the judge ordered his deportation, issued a lifetime ban on entering Canada, and imposed strict probation conditions.
Under the three-year probation order, Singh is barred from contacting the two complainants or approaching any place they live, study, or work. He is also prohibited from interacting with anyone under the age of 16, except for his newborn grandchild. In addition, he must stay at least 100 metres away from any school, playground, pool, park, or community centre.
Victim impact statements presented in court highlighted the emotional toll on the young girls. One student wrote that the incident changed the way she perceives older men. Another said she did not want to know “what he was thinking or what he was doing with those pictures.”